And now ready to go with the cutting.

Also, on this day two years ago we arrived in Australia.

Yesterday I made a tutu. Not something you do everyday, granted, but I did it. I still have to make another one for a smaller person. This one is for the biggest child.

I may have to re think and re make though as I bought really rough net instead of softer tulle. It looks great but will scratch the poor little mite’s legs to pieces no doubt. I also want to add a cotton waistband just to make it more wearable and comfy.

We’ve been busy, I’ve been busy. And I’m not too sure what I’ve been busy with but all I know is that time is playing that trick on me again. Running away and hiding.

We had a visit from my mum for most of the month which is probably why it was so busy. We did a lot of good things… Wineries, eating out, strawberry picking and the beach.

I’ve also been upping my running program and I’m now into my 7th week and going strong. 3 more weeks and I’ll have completed the first part of my training. Then into serious stuff in preparation for the 7.5k I signed up for in January. Perhaps I should have started with a 5k but what the hell!

I just finished working on a print with a lovely lady who contacted me via my madeit store to ask if I could help her with a wedding gift for her friends. I happily obliged and the end result is just excellent.

We just beginning to work through our visa application for permanent residency here in Australia too which is TOTALLY mind blowing. I can remember when we arrived and kept thinking that it would be such a long time before we could do it and now the time is here. It has gone by so so so quickly.

We’ve just started growing veggies and herbs in our little garden. All in pots so that we can move them/take them with us when we decide to buy our own house. It’s such a satisfying feeling seeing vegetables grow in your own back yard.

I also just finished a website for a friend who has just started a new business and Lexie started the new term at the Gym Jets training program. It’s all go!

I’m hoping that now things have settled down a bit that I can get my head down and get some more work done.

A few snap shots of what we’ve been up to over the past month or two. More photos will be on flickr. And I’m sorry blog, I haven’t been around here a lot. I promise to do better.

It’s been a busy month or two there’s no denying it. I’m hoping that I can get back into my groove again pretty soon as it’s been interrupted by quite a few things including gymnastic competitions and a fair few other things.

Today I’ve been tackling the garage (again). It seems like only yesterday that I organised it all and now however many months later it’s like a bomb site again. It’s been niggling me for a while as things continued to gather and pile up in there. The special dumping ground that no one else can see.

What you may not know about me is that I need to be organised and feel calm to be productive. I know that once I have blitzed the garage I will have a clearer head.

I’ve also been very fortunate to have been working for a while with Indico, the company that M works for. This has been fantastic for us and really I couldn’t ask for more. It has allowed me to work from home and also for myself which I am loving. And I’m hoping I can continue along this path by taking on some new work.

I’m going to be working on some new illustrations and trying out some new papers over the coming weeks so really geared up and excited about that too.

My mum is arriving for her third visit in two weeks and we’re all really excited about that. Lexie will be on school holidays when she is here so they’ll have lots of time together and of course Poppy is only at daycare 1 day a week now so lots of fun time with their Granny.

Other news… I have just started running again. I really needed to do something. Something inexpensive (no gym fees), something that would get me fit and lose the 28lbs extra that I don’t need yet have been carrying around for the past 2 years and also to help my back. Sitting around all day at a computer is the absolute worst thing I can be doing for my back and also being a bit overweight doesn’t help it either.

So, over the next few weeks / months you may see some running shots & or progress on how I’m doing with it. I have signed up to do a race at the start of 2012 to give me the motivation to keep going because I have to say that starting out in running isn’t easy when you’re unfit and overweight.

And I think that’s it from me for now. I’m going to see what else needs to be sorted in the garage and then get my running gear on and go for a run!

I started my new Facebook page not so long ago and was very excited to see the number of “likers” grow so quickly. As a thank you and to celebrate reaching the first 100 (it’s more than that now) I’d like to offer a little prize/giveaway to all you good people for being so awesome (I’m saying this awesome word more and more now that I live in Australia hehe!).

There will be 2 winners drawn at random from a hat on Saturday 24th September and each winner will receive an A4 print of their choosing.

All you have to do is…

1. leave a comment on the blog here and tell me which print is your favourite. (check out the link if you’re unsure).
2. Also, if you can tell me what you would like to see me illustrate next feel free to let me know.

And that’s it. Easy!

Very excited about this. Spread the word!

I created this little party invitation for Lexie’s birthday a while back and thought that it would be kind of nice to give the good people who read this blog a little gift by offering the invitation as a free download.

There are 4 to an A4 page and you’ll need the adobe acrobat reader (which is free also) to view and print it (hint: when printing choose don’t scale). Print onto heavyweight card  and trim along the lines. Voila!

Small print: If you decide to download it please remember that it’s for your own personal use. Please don’t distribute it or sell it. Thanks!

Stage 1 of the transformation of our found chairs.

We love: the chunky solid structure with a hint of nostalgia taking us back to our childhood.

These are some BEFORE shots.

We had a good day yesterday too. The weather was perfect for outdoor working and we had a blast making a start on these chairs.

We have a set of 4 bar stools and a set of 6 dining chairs to get us going and we already have a plan for what we’ll be doing with them.

I’m so excited to announce that Alex Fulton is doing a giveaway over on her blog to celebrate her 1 year blogaversary. She is giving away not 1 but 2 of my A3 prints and we’re throwing in a pack of pins too for good measure!!! How’s that for a good prize?

Alex is an interior designer based in Christchurch, NZ and she is to be fair a total colour fiend (a bit like me!) with the most amazing house that I am secretly very envious of.

All you have to do is visit my etsy store and choose which A3 print you’d love to have on your walls and why and leave a comment on Alex’s website. Easy!

You can enter the giveaway until September 2nd and it’s an international giveaway so anyone can enter. Extra brownie points for liking my facebook page or Alex’s facebook page.

Good luck!

I know it’s not Monday here – it’s Tuesday but I just found another treasury featuring my Kaleidoscope Flora No. 05 print called Bright Monday! Have a bright Monday/Tuesday!